Pg Updated: May 12, 2023

1-Q.
Just the other day TTGM asked a Christian elder how can we be righteous? He gave us a general answer. Unfortunately, most Christians cannot give a specific answer to this question.

TTGM’s answer to him and we will be specific.
A.
Righteousness is keeping the commandments of God. It is written.
(Deut 6:25 [KJV])
And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do ALL these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.

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AND
When we keep the commandments we are being righteous.
Ps 119:172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
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AND
When we keep the Torah/Law/Commandments we are being spiritual. It is written.
Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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2-Q.
On the other hand, what is being unrighteous?

A.
Unrighteousness is a person that does not keep the commandments of God. When we do not keep the commandments of God we are unrighteous (lawless, or transgressors of God’s law). It is written.
(Rom 1:29 [KJV])
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, etc

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3-Q.
If we keep God’s commandments to be righteous will this be enough to merit His acceptability? 

A.
No, on our own God sees our righteousness as filthy rags. This is why we must become one in Christ. When we are one in Christ, God the Father no longer sees us, but He sees His Son’s righteousness. And Yeshua’s righteousness is well pleasing in His sight. 
(Isa 64:6 [KJV])
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

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AND
God the Father is pleased with His Son.
(Matt 3:17 [KJV])
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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4-Q.
If our good works (righteousness) are as filthy rags, why do we need to keep God’s commandments if we are in Christ? 

A.
We need to keep them to show love to God and to each other. All of God’s commandments are based on love (sin is based on hatred). IMPORTANT: At the judgment seat all of us will be judged based on God’s commandments. At the white throne judgment, the dammed will be judged based on God’s commandments. 
To God, it is written.
(John 14:15 [KJV])
If ye love me (God), keep my commandments.

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AND
This is how believers show love to each other, it is written.
(1John 5:2 [KJV])
By this we know that we love the children of God (each other), when we love God, and keep his commandments.

Happy is the man whose wife keeps the commandments of God towards him.

Happy is the woman whose husband keeps the commandments of God towards her.

Happy are parents whose children keep the commandments of God towards them.

Happy is God when men, women, and children keep the commandments of God towards Him, for He will give them the comforter (Holy Spirit) that they will gain the gift of eternal life – Jn 14:15-16. 

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Here is a New Testament reference that links righteousness with the keeping of the commandments (some Christians believe that the OT is for Jews only, and they would only read the NT).  
(Luke 1:6 [KJV])
And they were both righteous before God, walking in ALL the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
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We will now answer other questions surrounding righteousness, such as repentance, sin, law, perfection etc.

5-Q.
We are told we must repent of our sins and follow Him. What is sin? It is written.

A.
Sin is the Transgression of God’s law.
(1John 3:4 [KJV])
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

nb. The word used for law is Torah (not Roman/man’s law). God’s commandments are contained in the Torah.

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6-Q.
If we are to turn from our sin, how can we know what sin is, if we do not know the law of God?

A.
We can know what we need to repent from, we only need to read 1 John 3:4 (definition of law) and start reading the Torah/law (Torah = law = the First five books of the Old Testament = Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

nb: Here is the list of commandments that are contained in the law – Visit this Page. We recommend you read the Bible to get the context and meaning as to how the commandment should be applied in your life. 

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7-Q.
Can following the law of God make us perfect in God’s eyes?

A.
No, only when we follow (believe in by faith) Him (Yeshua) can we be perfect. It is written.
(Matt 19:21 [KJV])
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

Nb. Perfection does not come in keeping the law or selling all that we have, it comes in following Him by faith. IF WE LOVE GOD, HE WANTS HIS FOLLOWERS TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD/COMMANDMENTS. IN OUR OBEDIANCE TO HIS WORD, HE WILL KNOW US AND GIVE US HIS COMFORTER (REM:  In spirit and in truth). It is written.
(John 14:15-16 [KJV])
If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Yeshua was repeating His words from here.
(Deut 5:10 [KJV])
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

Summary: The Many that say Lord Lord and cast out devils etc, will not get into the Kingdom of God. Why? They work Iniquity (they are not known by Christ). It is written.
(Matt 7:23 [KJV])
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Yeshua was repeating His words from here.
(Ps 6:8 [KJV])
Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.

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8-Q.
What does iniquity mean?

A.
Transgression of God’s law – see related Topics.
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Conclusion: The Many that say Lord Lord, do not keep His commandments/law (they work iniquity); they are unrighteous. God wants us to live a life of righteousness and to do it perfectly by following/believing/ having faith in Him. We must do it in spirit and in truth. IMPORTANT: We must hold nothing that is in this world above Him, He must be first and our all in all. 

(John 4:23 [KJV])
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Be Blessed in understanding. 

RELATED TOPICS:
For more on what Yeshua repeated from the Old Testament read and watch here.

Here are examples of Iniquity that are practiced by the Many that call upon His name. The unrighteous practice iniquity.